Raid controlled semiconductor storage device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a RAID controlled storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (PCI-Express) type, which provides data storage/reading services through a PCI-Express interface. The PCI-Express type storage device includes: a memory disk unit which includes a plurality of memory disks provided with a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories; a PCI-Express host interface unit which interfaces between the memory disk unit and a host; and a controller unit which adjusts synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the memory disk unit to control a data transmission/reception speed between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the memory disk unit. The storage device can support a low-speed data processing speed for the host and simultaneously support a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk unit, so that there are advantages in that the performance of the memory disk can be fully utilized to enable high-speed data processing in an existing interface environment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related in some aspects to commonly-owned, co-pending application Ser. No. 12/758,937, entitled SEMICONDUCTOR STORAGE DEVICE″, filed on Apr. 13, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a RAID controlled semiconductor storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the need for more computer storage grows, more efficient solutions are being sought. As is known, there are various hard disk solutions that store/reads data in a mechanical manner as a data storage medium. Unfortunately, data processing speed associated with hard disks is often slow. Moreover, existing solutions still use interfaces that cannot catch up with the data processing speed of memory disks having high-speed data input/output performance as an interface between the data storage medium and the host. Therefore, there is a problem in the existing area in that the performance of the memory disk cannot be property utilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a raid controlled storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type that supports a low-speed data processing speed for a host. Specifically, embodiments of this invention provide a RAID controller coupled to one or more (i.e., a set of) semiconductor storage devices (SSDs). Among other things, the SSDs adjust a synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the host and a memory disk during data communications between the host and the memory disk through a PCI-Express interface and simultaneously support a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed processing in an existing interface environment at the maximum.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a RAID controlled semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: an SSD memory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disks provided having a plurality of semiconductor memories; a RAID controller coupled to the SSD memory disk unit; a host interface unit which interfaces between the SSD memory disk unit and a host; and a controller unit coupled to the RAID controller configured to adjust a synchronization of a data signal communicated between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to control a communication speed between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a RAID controlled PCI-Express type semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: an SSD memory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disks provided having a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories; a RAID controller coupled to the SSD memory disk unit; a PCI-Express host interface unit which interfaces between the SSD memory disk unit and a host; a controller unit coupled to the RAID controller that adjusts a synchronization of a data signal communicated between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to control a data communication speed between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit; and the controller unit comprising: a memory control module which controls data input/output of the SSD memory disk unit; a DMA control module which controls the memory control module to store data in the SSD memory disk unit or reads data from the SSD memory disk unit to provide the data to the host, according to an instruction from the host received through the PCI-Express host interface unit; a buffer which buffers data according to control of the DMA control module; and a synchronization control module for synchronizing a communication speed of a data signal.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing a RAID controlled semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: providing a SSD memory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disks provided having a plurality of semiconductor memories; providing a RAID controller coupled to the SSD memory disk unit; providing a host interface unit which interfaces between the SSD memory disk unit and a host; and providing a controller unit coupled to the RAID controller configured to adjust a synchronization of a data signal communicated between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to control a communication speed between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a RAID controlled storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a more specific diagram of a RAID controller coupled to a set of SSDs.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the high speed SSD of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a controller unit in FIG. 1.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth therein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms “a”, “an”, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Moreover, as used herein, the term RAID means redundant array of independent disks (originally redundant array of inexpensive disks). In general, RAID technology is a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, I/O (input/output) operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. Since multiple disks increase the mean time between failures (MTBF), storing data redundantly also increases fault tolerance.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, a RAID storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (PCI-Express) type according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As indicated above, embodiments of the present invention provide a RAID controlled storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (PCI-Express) type that supports a low-speed data processing speed for a host. This is typically accomplished by adjusting a synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the host and a memory disk during data communications between the host and the memory disk through a PCI-Express interface and by simultaneously supporting a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed processing in an existing interface environment at the maximum.

The storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (PCI-Express) type supports a low-speed data processing speed for a host by adjusting synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the host and a memory disk during data communications between the host and the memory disk through a PCI-Express interface, and simultaneously supports a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed data processing in an existing interface environment at the maximum. It is understood in advance that although PCI-Express technology will be utilized in a typical embodiment, other alternatives are possible. For example, the present invention could utilize SAS/SATA technology in which a SAS/SATA type storage device is provided that utilizes a SAS/SATA interface.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a PCI-Express type, RAID controlled storage device (e.g., for providing storage for a serially attached computer device) according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. As depicted, FIG. 1 shows a RAID controlled PCI-Express type storage device according to an embodiment of the invention which includes a memory disk unit 100 comprising: a plurality of memory disks having a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories (also referred to herein as high speed SSDs 100); a RAID controller 800 coupled to SSDs 100; an interface unit 200 (e.g., PCI-Express host) which interfaces between the memory disk unit and a host; a controller unit 300; an auxiliary power source unit 400 that is charged to maintain a predetermined power using the power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit; a power source control unit 500 that supplies the power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit to the controller unit, the memory disk unit, the backup storage unit, and the backup control unit which, when the power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit is blocked or an error occurs in the power transferred from the host, receives power from the auxiliary power source unit and supplies the power to the memory disk unit through the controller unit; a backup storage unit 600 that stores data of the memory disk unit; and a backup control unit 700 that backs up data stored in the memory disk unit in the backup storage unit, according to an instruction from the host or when an error occurs in the power transmitted from the host.

The memory disk unit 100 includes a plurality of memory disks provided with a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories for high-speed data input/output (for example, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, SDRAM, and the like), and inputs and outputs data according to the control of the controller 300. The memory disk unit 100 may have a configuration in which the memory disks are arrayed in parallel.

The PCI-Express host interface unit 200 interfaces between a host and the memory disk unit 100. The host may be a computer system or the like, which is provided with a PCI-Express interface and a power source supply device.

The controller unit 300 adjusts synchronization of data signals transmitted/received between the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 and the memory disk unit 100 to control a data transmission/reception speed between the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 and the memory disk unit 100.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a more detailed diagram of a RAID controlled SSD 810 is shown. As depicted, a PCI-e type RAID controller 800 can be directly coupled to any quantity of SSDs 100. Among other things, this allows for optimum control of SSDs 100. Among other things, the use of a RAID controller 800:

-   -   1. Supports the current backup/restore operations.     -   2. Provides additional and improved backup function by         performing the following:         -   a) The internal backup controller determines the backup             (user's request order or the status monitor detects power             supply problems);         -   b) The internal backup controller requests a data backup to             SSDs;         -   c) The internal backup controller requests internal backup             device to backup data immediately;         -   d) Monitors the status of the backup for the SSDs and             internal backup controller; and         -   e) Reports the internal backup controller's status and             end-op.     -   3. Provides additional and improved restore function by         performing the following:         -   a) The internal backup controller determines the restore             (user's request order or the status monitor detects power             supply problems);         -   b) The internal backup controller requests a data restore to             the SSDs;         -   c) The internal backup controller requests internal backup             device to restore data immediately;         -   d) Monitors the status of the restore for the SSDs and             internal backup controller; and         -   e) Reports the internal backup controller status and end-op.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the high speed SSD 100 is shown. As depicted, SSD/memory disk unit 100 comprises: a host interface 202 (e.g., PCI-Express host) (which can be interface 200 of FIG. 1, or a separate interface as shown); a DMA controller 302 interfacing with a backup control module 700; an ECC controller; and a memory controller 306 for controlling one or more blocks 604 of memory 602 that are used as high-speed storage.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the controller unit provided in the PCI-Express type storage device according to the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, the controller unit 300 according to the embodiment includes: a memory control module 310 which controls data input/output of the memory disk unit 100; a DMA (Direct Memory Access) control module 320 which controls the memory control module 310 to store the data in the memory disk unit 100, or reads data from the memory disk unit 100 to provide the data to the host, according to an instruction from the host received through the PCI-Express host interface unit 200; a buffer 330 which buffers data according to the control of the DMA control module 320; a synchronization control module 340 which, when receiving a data signal corresponding to the data read from the memory disk unit 100 by the control of the DMA control module 320 through the DMA control module 320 and the memory control module 310, adjusts synchronization of a data signal so as to have a communication speed corresponding to a PCI-Express communications protocol to transmit the synchronized data signal to the PCI-Express host interface unit 200, and when receiving a data signal from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit 200, adjusts synchronization of the data signal so as to have a transmission speed corresponding to a communications protocol (for example, PCI, PCI-x, or PCI-e, and the like) used by the memory disk unit 100 to transmit the synchronized data signal to the memory disk unit 100 through the DMA control module 320 and the memory control module 310; and a high-speed interface module 350 which processes the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module 340 and the DMA control module 320 at high speed. Here, the high-speed interface module 350 includes a buffer having a double buffer structure and a buffer having a circular queue structure and processes the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module 340 and the DMA control module 320 without loss at high speed by buffering the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module 340 and the DMA control module 320 using the buffers and adjusting data clocks.

The auxiliary power source unit 400 may be configured as a rechargeable battery or the like, so that it is normally charged to maintain a predetermined power using power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 and supplies the charged power to the power source control unit 500 according to the control of the power source control unit 500.

The power source control unit 500 supplies the power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 to the controller unit 300, the memory disk unit 100, the backup storage unit 600, and the backup control unit 700.

In addition, when an error occurs in a power source of the host because the power transmitted from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 is blocked, or the power transmitted from the host deviates from a threshold value, the power source control unit 500 receives power from the auxiliary power source unit 400 and supplies the power to the memory disk unit 100 through the controller unit 300.

The backup storage unit 600 is configured as a low-speed non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk and stores data of the memory disk unit 100.

The backup control unit 700 backs up data stored in the memory disk unit 100 in the backup storage unit 600 by controlling the data input/output of the backup storage unit 600 and backs up the data stored in the memory disk unit 100 in the backup storage unit 600 according to an instruction from the host, or when an error occurs in the power source of the host due to a deviation of the power transmitted from the host deviates from the threshold value.

While the exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of this disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure not be limited to the particular exemplary embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that this disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The RAID controlled storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (PCI-Express) type supports a low-speed data processing speed for a host by adjusting synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the host and a memory disk during data communications between the host and the memory disk through a PCI-Express interface and simultaneously supports a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed data processing in an existing interface environment at the maximum.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 

1. A RAID controlled semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: an SSD memory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disks provided having a plurality of semiconductor memories; a RAID controller coupled to the SSD memory disk unit; and a controller unit coupled to the RAID controller configured to adjust a synchronization of a data signal communicated between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to control a communication speed between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit.
 2. The RAID controlled SDD of claim 1, the controller unit comprising: a memory control module for controlling data input/output of the SSD memory disk unit; a DMA control module which controls the memory control module to store data in the SSD memory disk unit or reads data from the SSD memory disk unit to provide the data to the host according to an instruction from the host received through the host interface unit; a buffer which buffers data according to control of the DMA control module; a synchronization control module which, when receiving a data signal corresponding to the data read from the SSD memory disk unit by the control of the DMA control module through the DMA control module and the memory control module, adjusts synchronization of a data signal so as to have a communication speed corresponding to a PCI-Express communications protocol to transmit the synchronized data signal to the PCI-Express host interface unit and, when receiving a data signal from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit, adjusts synchronization of the data signal so as to have a transmission speed corresponding to a communications protocol used by the SSD memory disk unit to transmit the synchronized data signal to the SSD memory disk unit through the DMA control module and the memory control module; and a high-speed interface module which processes the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module and the DMA control module at high speed, including a buffer having a double buffer structure and a buffer having a circular queue structure, and processes the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module and the DMA control without loss of high speed by buffering the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module and the DMA control module using the buffers and adjusting data clocks.
 3. The RAID controlled SSD of claim 2, further comprising: a backup storage unit which stores data of the SSD memory disk unit; and a backup control unit which backs up data stored in the SSD memory disk unit in the backup storage unit, according to an instruction from the host or when an error occurs in the power transmitted from the host.
 4. The RAID controlled SSD of claim 3, further comprising: an auxiliary power source unit which is charged to maintain a predetermined power using the power transferred from the host through the host interface unit; and a power source control unit which supplies the power transferred from the host through the host interface unit to the controller unit, the SSD memory disk unit, the backup storage unit, and the backup control unit and, when the power transferred from the host through the host interface unit is blocked or an error occurs in the power transferred from the host that receives power from the auxiliary power source unit and supplies the power to the memory disk until through the controller unit.
 5. The RAID controlled SSD of claim 1, the plurality of semiconductor memories being volatile, and the host interface unit being a PCI-Express host interface unit.
 6. The RAID controlled SSD of claim 1, the SSD memory disk unit comprising: a host interface unit; a DMA controller coupled to the host interface unit; an ECC controller coupled to the DMA controller; a memory controller coupled to the ECC controller; and a memory array coupled to the memory controller, the memory array comprising at least one memory block.
 7. The RAID controlled SSD of claim 1, the SSD memory disk unit providing storage for a serially attached computer device.
 8. A PCI-Express type RAID controlled semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: a SSD memory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disks having with a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories; a RAID controller coupled to the SSD memory disk unit; a PCI-Express host interface unit which interfaces between the SSD memory disk unit and a host; a controller unit coupled to the RAID controller that adjusts a synchronization of a data signal communicated between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to control a data communication speed between the PCI-Express host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit; and the controller unit comprising: a memory control module which controls data input/output of the SSD memory disk unit; a DMA control module which controls the memory control module to store data in the SSD memory disk unit or reads data from the SSD memory disk unit to provide the data to the host, according to an instruction from the host received through the PCI-Express host interface unit; a buffer which buffers data according to control of the DMA control module; and a synchronization control module for synchronizing a communication speed of a data signal.
 9. The PCI-Express type SSD of claim 8, the synchronization control module being configured to: when receiving a data signal corresponding to the data read from the SSD memory disk unit by the control of the DMA control module through the DMA control module and the memory control module, adjust a synchronization of a data signal so as to have a communication speed corresponding to a PCI-Express communications protocol to transmit the synchronized data signal to the PCI-Express host interface unit; and when receiving a data signal from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit, adjust synchronization of the data signal so as to have a transmission speed corresponding to a communications protocol used by the SSD memory disk unit to transmit the synchronized data signal to the SSD memory disk unit through the DMA control module and the memory control module; and a high-speed interface module which processes the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module and the DMA control module at high speed.
 10. The PCI-Express type SSD of claim 8, further comprising: a backup storage unit which stores data of the SSD memory disk unit; and a backup control unit which backs up data stored in the SSD memory disk unit in the backup storage unit, according to an instruction from the host or when an error occurs in the power transmitted from the host.
 11. The PCI-Express type SSD of claim 8, further comprising: an auxiliary power source unit which is charged to maintain a predetermined power using the power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit; and a power source control unit which supplies the power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit to the controller unit, the SSD memory disk unit, the backup storage unit, and the backup control unit and, when the power transferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit is blocked or an error occurs in the power transferred from the host, receives power from the auxiliary power source unit and supplies the power to the SSD memory disk unit through the controller unit.
 12. The PCI-Express type SSD of claim 8, the SSD memory disk unit providing storage for a serially attached computer device.
 13. A method for providing a RAID controlled semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: providing an SSD memory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disks provided having a plurality of semiconductor memories; providing a RAID controller coupled to the SSD memory disk unit providing a host interface unit which interfaces between the SSD memory disk unit and a host; and providing a controller unit coupled to the RAID controller configured to adjust a synchronization of a data signal communicated between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to control a communication speed between the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit.
 14. The method of claim 13, the providing of the controller unit comprising: providing a memory control module for controlling data input/output of the SSD memory disk unit; providing a DMA control module which controls the memory control module to store data in the SSD memory disk unit or reads data from the SSD memory disk unit to provide the data to the host, according to an instruction from the host received through the host interface unit; providing a buffer which buffers data according to control of the DMA control module; providing a synchronization control module which, when receiving a data signal corresponding to the data read from the SSD memory disk unit by the control of the DMA control module through the DMA control module and the memory control module, adjusts synchronization of a data signal so as to have a communication speed corresponding to a PCI-Express communications protocol to transmit the synchronized data signal to the PCI-Express host interface unit and, when receiving a data signal from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit, adjusts synchronization of the data signal so as to have a transmission speed corresponding to a communications protocol used by the SSD memory disk unit to transmit the synchronized data signal to the SSD memory disk unit through the DMA control module and the memory control module; and providing a high-speed interface module which processes the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module and the DMA control module at high speed and includes a buffer having a double buffer structure and a buffer having a circular queue structure, and processes the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module and the DMA control without loss of high speed by buffering the data transmitted/received between the synchronization control module and the DMA control module using the buffers and adjusting data clocks.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing a backup storage unit which stores data of the SSD memory disk unit; and providing a backup control unit which backs up data stored in the SSD memory disk unit in the backup storage unit, according to an instruction from the host or when an error occurs in the power transmitted from the host.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing an auxiliary power source unit which is charged to maintain a predetermined power using the power transferred from the host through the host interface unit; and providing a power source control unit which supplies the power transferred from the host through the host interface unit to the controller unit, the SSD memory disk unit, the backup storage unit, and the backup control unit and, when the power transferred from the host through the host interface unit is blocked or an error occurs in the power transferred from the host, receives power from the auxiliary power source unit and supplies the power to the memory disk until through the controller unit.
 17. The method of claim 13, the plurality of semiconductor memories being volatile.
 18. The method of claim 13, the host interface unit being a PCI-Express host interface unit.
 19. The method of claim 13, the SSD memory disk unit providing storage for a serially attached computer device. 